Hilton’s luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, will welcome its first guests to Southeast Asia within the third quarter of 2018 with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.
The chain has established an expansion plan for Waldorf Astoria in other parts of the Southeast Asian market, including: within the Maldives and Indonesia.
One of essentially the most anticipated hotel openings within the region this yr, this grand debut will showcase the brand’s iconic experience to discerning travelers in Thailand’s vibrant capital.
As a tribute to the owners of the property, Magnolia Finest Corporation Limited, the constructing was designed to present the effect of growing out of the bottom like a magnolia flower. Towering over the town, the dazzling sculptural mansion stands out against the Bangkok skyline, in the center of the bustling Ratchaprasong intersection.
The hotel will boast 171 luxuriously appointed and spacious rooms and suites that reflect the craftsmanship and craftsmanship of award-winning designer Andre Fu and his design studio AFSO.
With a worldwide portfolio of 30 hotels and resorts, Waldorf Astoria is thought for creating a singular sense of place through an ongoing commitment to personalized service and culinary expertise in iconic locations all over the world. The Waldorf Astoria consistently offers a robust sense of arrival and impressive public spaces worthy of hosting history. Many historical figures are related to the brand – from Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra to world leaders.
Daniel Welk, vice chairman of operations, luxury and lifestyle, Asia-Pacific at Hilton, said certainly one of the important thing reasons behind the choice is the very optimistic outlook for Bangkok’s inbound tourism sector. Last yr, it was named the most well-liked city for international tourists in keeping with the Global Destination Cities Index 2017, even ahead of cities resembling London, Paris, Dubai, New York and Singapore. What’s more, this growth doesn’t seem like it’ll decelerate any time soon, with total international arrivals expected to peak at 38.93 million in 2018, representing a 9.2% year-on-year increase.
“At the same time, we are seeing continued growth in the luxury travel segment in Thailand. As spending per tourist continues to rise, one of the key trends that has emerged is a shift towards the high-end market among both Chinese and European tourists. Moreover, as Bangkok is home to some of the world’s best cuisine and design, we simply couldn’t think of a better place to launch our first Waldorf Astoria in Southeast Asia,” he said, adding that, after all, the selection of location in Bangkok was also crucial – situated in the center of Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok’s bustling city center and just steps from the ultra-convenient BTS train system, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is inside minutes’ walk of renowned shopping districts and tourist attractions, making it an excellent base from which to get around around Bangkok.
“We currently operate eight properties in Thailand spanning our entire portfolio of brands. This includes five Hilton Hotels & Resorts, two Conrad Hotels & Resorts and one DoubleTree by Hilton. We also currently have four hotels in the pipeline – the upcoming Hilton Hotel & Resort, another DoubleTree by Hilton, our first Hilton Garden Inn and, of course, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok,” Welk said.
“From Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills to Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, our global portfolio of nearly 35 iconic properties creates a unique sense of place through an ongoing commitment to personal service and culinary expertise in iconic locations around the world. That’s why the Waldorf Astoria brand appeals to luxury travelers who seek unparalleled experiences, inspiring and personalized stays, and current yet timeless environments that allow guests to make the most of their time. In terms of occupancy, we are already seeing strong interest in bookings, well ahead of the official opening in the third quarter of this year. Moreover, as inbound tourism to Bangkok continues to grow and the luxury travel market grows stronger, we expect this enthusiastic response to extend beyond the short term,” he said.
Welk said Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is the brand’s first foray into Southeast Asia. Hilton currently has 4 more Waldorf Astoria hotels within the pipeline or in various stages of development elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
This includes Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, scheduled to open in the primary quarter of 2019, in addition to three others in Indonesia – Waldorf Astoria Bali, Waldorf Astoria Jakarta, each opening in 2020, and Waldorf Astoria Bali Ubud, scheduled to open in 2021 .
Source: The Jakarta Post
